START OF MATCH Umpire flips a coin Team captains call heads/tails. The winner of the coin toss gets the first toss of the pallino and the choice of the color of the balls and throws the first bocce ball. The bocce balls and pallino provided by Wyndemere must be used for all league matches. For league play, any two team members should play at one end of the court with the other two team members playing at the other end of the court. A player may toss the pallino any distance as long as it passes the centerline of the court and does not hit the back wall (side wall is ok). If a player fails to toss the pallino beyond the center line or the pallino hits the back wall, the opposing team then throws the pallino. If the opposing team also fails to put the pallino in play, the umpire places the pallino in the center of court. When the pallino has been properly put in play, the team player who originally tossed the pallino first will throw the first bocce ball. PLAYING THE GAME If a bocce ball hits the backboard, without hitting the pallino or another bocce ball, that ball is considered dead and the ball is taken out of play. (If it hits the side wall then hits the backwall without hitting the pallino or another ball it is still considered dead and taken out of play). If the ball hits the back wall without hitting the pallino in the initial throw of the frame, that team continues to throw until the initial point is established. If the ball rebounds off the backboard and hits another ball or the pallino, the team captains return all balls hit to their approximate original positions. That team keeps on throwing until its bocce ball is closer to the pallino or all their balls have been thrown. The team whose bocce ball is closer to the pallino is called inside and the opposing team outside. Whenever a team gets inside, it steps aside and lets the outside team roll. The outside team throws until it beats (not ties) the opposing teams ball. This continues until both teams have used all of their bocce balls (a total of 8...4 from each team). The team that scores last throws the pallino to begin the next frame. Team members may throw alternate balls or two consecutive balls. No team member may throw more than two balls in each frame. Consecutive or alternating throws by teammates shall be the option of the players. If a player rolls out of turn or rolls more than two balls, the other team may leave all balls as they are or have the umpire remove the illegal ball from play and return all balls to their approximate previous positions. 1/5/18 1
The pallino remains in play unless it is knocked out of the court or knocked in front of the center line, then the frame ends, is void, and play starts over from the opposite end with the same team tossing the pallino. If the wrong color ball is rolled, the umpire will simply replace it in the same spot with the correct color ball. If a player accidentally moves the pallino or any other ball, the umpire will simply return them to their approximate previous position. The Umpire will determine all ball locations and resulting points. A call to measure can only be done after all balls are thrown (when points are being counted), not during play. A player may go down the court to view a ball position before shooting. (The player should not delay the game any more than necessary.) Players must stay off of the courts when another player is rolling. At least two players from each team should exchange ends of the court when the game is finished before starting the next game on the same court. SHOOTING Shooting is lofting the ball in the air beyond the center of the court and is not allowed. To reduce damage to the courts, no delivered ball may be raised above the waist. Preferably, it should be released below the knee. FOUL LINE Players should throw within 10 feet of the back of the court. Typically if a player commits a foot foul the Umpire issues a warning for 1 st offense, should the same player foul again the thrown ball is removed from play and all struck balls returned to their approx. original positions by the umpire. SCORING Only the inside team scores. One point is given for each ball of the inside team that is closer to the pallino than any ball of the opposing team. Games are played to 8 points revised 1/19/18 If at the end of any frame, the closest ball of each team is equidistant from the pallino, the frame ends in a tie and NO points are awarded to either team. The game will resume from the opposite end of the court with the team that originally tossed the pallino to start the next frame tossing the pallino. The team that scores 10 points wins the game thereby earning 1 league point for the win. If a team forfeits a game, the forfeiting team receives a score of 0 and 0 POINTS for the match. The opposing team receives 1 POINT for each game that was forfeited. MEASUREMENTS, TIE BALLS and GROOMING DURING A MATCH 1/5/18 2
Umpires can call for a measurement at any time. (Captains, trust your Umps.) Only captains and Umpires are allowed on the courts. All measurements should be made from the center of the pallino to the center of the bocce ball by an umpire and a captain. Measuring devices are provided. In case of a tie between two balls, the team that had the point first must be beaten. If all balls are thrown and the tie is not broken, the frame ends with no points awarded. Play continues at the opposite end. The team that originally threw the pallino throws it again. It is not the intent that the court be groomed after each game. However, if there appears to be a need and the captains agree, it can be groomed. If the team captains cannot agree on whether the court needs to be groomed, then there will be a coin toss and the winning captain s decision will prevail. LATE ARRIVALS A team not showing up within 5 minute of the scheduled starting time loses one point (i.e. one point is awarded on the scoreboard to the opposing team). A team not showing up within: 5 minutes of the scheduled starting time forfeits game 1 10 minutes of the scheduled starting time forfeits game 2 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time forfeits all 3 games SUBSTITUTIONS A team can t participate in a regular league game unless at least two regular team members are present and playing. A player arriving late may enter game, but only after the completion of the frame. If only two (2) players are available, the game is forfeited. A team with 3 players plays with 3 balls and must rotate one person after each frame. All three players rotate. If a team forfeits any two matches within a season, they may be dropped from league. Any Wyndemere member may be used as a substitute and a non member guest may be used as long as the opposing Captain agrees prior to match. Please note that non member guests should not be used regularly but we understand it is fun to have our visitors participate. Semi-finals and finals no substitutions allowed. Substitutions will be allowed if a captain cannot field a full team or is in jeopardy of his team forfeiting. Once play has begun substitutions will be limited to one per game. Limit three substitutions per match (does not include substitutes which were installed before the game commenced). LEAGUE TIME League matches are scheduled at 4:00 and/or at 5:30 Monday through Thursday. 1/5/18 3
A match ends at a maximum one hour and 20 minutes of play. The Umpire will verbally give a 5 minute warning and notice to teams to finish the frame that they are on. No new frame will be started once the 5 minute warning has been given. If 10 points have not been scored in the game in progress, then the team with the highest score is deemed the winner or in the case of a tie each team is awarded one half of the league point. All players must vacate the court at the end of one hour and 20 minutes of play (at 5:20 pm or 6:50pm). POSTPONEMENT/ RESCHEDULING/ WINS/ LOSSES OF GAMES The team captains are responsible for the postponement of league games due to inclement weather and also for the rescheduling of the match. Captains will notify the originally scheduled Umpire of the match change. If umpire is not available for the new date/time then he/she will be relieved of their obligation and team Captains will decide if they want to find an Umpire or go without an Umpire if so desired. Rescheduled games should be played no later than two weeks after the original date of the scheduled games or game will be considered null & void with a score of zero for both teams. The Umpire (Captains if no Umpire available) reports match scores to Bocce Committee at wdougherty6@gmail.com and also to fitness2@wyndemere.com within 24 hour of play. Scores not reported within 5 days of play will automatically become zero for both teams. LEAGUE SCORING 3 Games make a match Complete Game: Winning team gets 1 POINT Partial Game: Team with highest score gets 1 POINT Tied Game: Each team gets 1/2 POINT Game not played/rained out with reschedule: NO POINTS awarded League standing is determined by total POINTS One half point deduction for each umpire no show as scheduled. IF TIME IS RUNNING OUT Matches are 80 minutes maximum to allow time for court sweeping and transition to next match. If it appears that the 2nd or 3rd game may not be completed within the allotted time, the Umpire will verbally give a 5 minute warning and notice to teams to finish the frame that they are on. No new frame will be started once the 5 minute warning has been given. If 10 game points have not been scored in the game in progress, then the team with the highest score is deemed the winner and gets 1 POINT or in the case of a tie each team is awarded ½ POINT. The remaining game if not started can be cancelled. NO POINTS awarded. 1/5/18 4
Court and surrounding sidewalk must be swept by after completion of the match. Be certain to allow time for this. MAKING UP GAMES AND FORFEITS Makeup games can be scheduled for any open time slot: league play or non-league play. Captains are solely responsible for notifying teammate of game cancellation/rain outs, scheduling makeup games, scheduling makeup game umpires and reserving make up game court times. Forfeits are discouraged: o Opposing team will receive a score of 3 (1 POINT for each game forfeited). o Forfeiting team will receive a score of 0 (0 POINTS for each game forfeited). PLAYOFFS/CHAMPIONSHIP May change seasonally At the discretion of the Fitness & Activities Director, playoffs may be held following the completion of league play to determine an overall League Champion Each Division may have a winner based on total league points or we may take the top four points leaders from the entire league (not Division specific). Playoffs can be conducted as follows: o Teams will be assigned a number by random draw. o Three Games will be played. A Game consists of 4 rounds (roll up court, back, then up and back once more). Total points carry into next game. o Game One: Team #1 will play team #4 and team #2 will play team #3. o Game Two: Team #1 plays #3 and Team #2 plays #4 o Game Three: Team #1 plays #4 and Team #2 plays #3 o Points from all three games carry forward with total determining League winner. TIE: Should playoffs result in a tie, tiebreaker game of three rounds up & back with total points determining the winner. If still tied then Ump will throw pallino and Captains will each throw one ball (coin toss determines who goes first) whereas closest wins. If a seeded team(s) has to forfeit their position in the playoffs then the next seeded team(s) in the overall standings moves up to a playoff position. CAPTAIN DUTIES Must regularly check email as this is the league method of communication Familiarize yourself with the Wyndemere web site and know the WCC Bocce rules. Contact your team members prior to all matches to insure that you have 4 players. Arrange for substitute players as needed. Coordinating with the other Captain for any game cancellations and rescheduling Notifying teammates of game cancellation/rain outs, makeup games, Scheduling makeup game umpires Reserving makeup game court times on Wyndemere.com Fulfill Umpire duties as scheduled or assign team member/other to fulfill the obligations. 1/5/18 5
Failure to show up to Umpire as scheduled, or the person who you assigned to Umpire fails to show up, will result in a half point penalty for each occurrence. Support the Umpires, the Ump is the ultimate authority!!! If Umpire doesn t show up then Ump duties fall to the Captains to keep games moving, starting and ending on time Sweep court at conclusion of match (and between games if necessary) Get/set up balls for match AND/OR return equipment to storage container. UMPIRE DUTIES Must regularly check email as this is the league method of communication Familiarize yourself with the Wyndemere web site and know the WCC Bocce rules. Bring a coin, facilitate the toss to determine which team goes first. Start and end the match on time Stand mid court throughout the game, using a red/green paddle to indicate who s turn it is. Facilitate measuring with the captains as you deem necessary or at Captains request. To measure, place can over pallino, pull string or tape to front of first ball, rotate can or string to the front of next ball. Enforce the rules, keeping other players off the court and the games moving forward. Keep score on the scoreboard AND report match score to wdougherty6@gmail.com and also to fitness2@wyndemere.com within 24 hours of match. Make sure court is brushed after match. Failure to show up as scheduled will result in a half league point deduction for your team. If you cannot make it please contact other players/umpires to fill in for you. CONDUCT AND COURTESY Courtesy and respect shall be displayed at all times. Profanity and unsportsmanlike conduct are not permitted. Smoking is not permitted. Dress code (tennis or golf attire; no jeans, tank tops, short shorts, bathing suits ) Cell phone usage prohibited near play areas. THE MAIN GOAL OF BOCCE IS TO HAVE FUN! Notes: Court light switch is located on the canopy support located near pickleball. They turn off automatically at 9pm but must be turned on manually. There is a phone in a box on the TV Stand with number for hostess stand for cocktails and the Gate house in case of an emergency. AED is on the pickleball side of the TV stand. 1/5/18 6